COVENTRY.- Masterpiece Watercolours and Drawings – a touring exhibition from National Museums Liverpool – features works by JMW Turner, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, David Cox, Edward Lear, Peter de Wint and Edward Burne-Jones.

The 50 pieces of art will be on display from Tuesday, January 13 to Sunday, March 22 in Gallery 4 at the venue in Jordan Well in the city centre.

Dominic Bubb, exhibitions officer at The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, said this was a rare chance to see some of the incredible collection held at the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight, Merseyside.

He said: “This magnificent collection follows the development of the British watercolour school in the 18th century through to the 19th and 20th centuries and the exhibition will appeal to audiences who love traditional art.

“The Lady Lever Art Gallery holds one of the best collections of British watercolours and drawings in the country.

“The gallery was founded by William Hesketh Lever, First Viscount Leverhulme, who was the son of a grocer from Bolton and became a wealthy soap manufacturer.

“The exhibition is divided into different sections. The first section concentrates on the British drawings and watercolours that Lever collected from the 1890s until his death in 1925, the second section explores his relationship with art dealers, particularly James Orrock and the third section highlights the acquisitions made by trustees at the gallery since his death.

“There are some fantastic watercolours by an array of artists including John Constable and JMW Turner as well as works by Victorian illustrators Helen Allingham and Kate Greenaway.

“The majority of these works of art had not been on display until this year as part of Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture celebrations so we are delighted to be bringing this rare collection to the city.

“To compliment the exhibition we will be showing some of The Herbert’s costume collection in Gallery 4. Our curators will choose specific paintings from the exhibition and display items and outfits that relate and have been influenced by the work on show.

“We will be running a series of events throughout the exhibition to appeal to all members of the family including talks, activities in the February half-term and a gallery tour by Dr Paul O’Keeffe, who is a renowned author on Victorian painters.”

Admission, as always at The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, is free.